NEWARK - The Newark Area Soccer Association has been near and dear to Geoff Smith for most of his life.

Smith is happy to show off the NASA complex at Alford-Reese Park any opportunity he gets, and that makes this past weekend a favorite each year. Smith was coaching two of NASA's XTABI entries in the annual Buckeye Cup.

"In most of our minds here, I think we have the best facilities in central Ohio, so having these teams come and experience that, it's nice to share the facilities with them and provide a good place to play soccer," Smith said. "It's my hometown club. I grew up in it, so it's really special for me to watch these guys develop and continue the success that we've had in the past."

The Buckeye Cup brings more than 100 teams in a number of divisions separated by age and gender to Licking County. It was an opportunity for XTABI teams to test themselves against some of the best from around Ohio and to gain bragging rights against rivals from the area.

Smith played for XTABI growing up and then for Newark High School and Ohio Northern University. He now is teaching some of the club's youngest players, coaching U9 and U10 boys teams.

"This is the second season the (U9 boys team) has been together, and last fall, they did quite well," Smith said. "They are pretty used to success at this point, which could be good or bad, you never know, but they are a great team. They love each other, they fight for each other."

The dedication of the players and coaches makes Scott Nicholls smile as he sees a bright future for soccer in Licking County. Many of the girls in the XTABI could eventually play for him in Newark High School's program.

On Sunday, Nicholls and Eric Mialky were coaching XTABI's U12 girls to a runner-up finish. Mialky said development is the main priority, and that has led to consistent winning for a group of girls who have been together for three years.

"I would attribute a lot of our success to the development that XTABI offers, putting a lot of emphasis on each individual player," Mialky said. "It's not about winning. It's about developing players, and that is the coach's No. 1 priority. It starts with Scott and carries on to me. The attitude of our girls is what makes us successful. They are willing to learn and take our guidance and apply that into their games."

Paul Wise, who coaches the U13 girls is on the same page. His job is to prepare his players for middle school play this fall.

Wise encourages his players to study the sport and to begin to think with the coaches to become more cerebral.

"Technical work is always the main thing and then at this age them learning tactically about the game as well," Wise said. "Them realizing the things within the game that are going on as opposed to us just giving them the information. It's kind of just testing them. We like to play a possession-based game and build them technically, and we'd like to think it allows to fit into any team at high school."

The goal is develop players into the total package starting from when Smith and others get them near square one to when they are ready to move up to XTABI's oldest teams.

All players had an opportunity to show off their skills this past weekend.

"I didn't envision coaching kids this young," Smith said. "It was kind of placed upon me my first couple seasons, but I have grown to love it. I couldn't ask for a better group of boys. It's an interesting perspective to see kids develop not necessarily from ground zero but from the start of their club career and go on to the 9 v 9 and 11 v 11 and into high school."